Weapon aiming accessory

ABSTRACT

A weapon aiming accessory system, associated components, and associated methods. A secondary aiming accessory can be selectively used in conjunction with a primary aiming accessory to provide magnification of a target. The secondary aiming accessory is movable between stowed and operational positions. The secondary aiming accessory can include one or more aiming points that can be calibrated with respect to a calibrated aiming point of the primary aiming accessory.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/963,722, filed Jan. 21, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to weapon accessories, and more particularly to weapon aiming accessories.

BACKGROUND

Some types of aiming accessories, such as “red dot” sights, provide no or minimal magnification of objects viewed through the aiming accessories. Such aiming accessories are helpful for close-range circumstances.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a weapon aiming system for use by a user comprises a primary aiming accessory and a secondary aiming accessory. The primary aiming accessory comprises a primary sight defining at least one primary aiming point. The primary sight is configured to permit the user to view a target through the primary sight to position the primary aiming point in registration with the target along an aiming axis for aiming the weapon at the target. The secondary aiming accessory comprises a secondary sight. The secondary sight is movably mounted with respect to the primary sight to permit movement of the secondary sight between a stowed position and an operational position. The secondary sight when in the stowed position is located to permit the user to view the target through the primary sight along the aiming axis without looking through the secondary sight. The secondary sight when in the operational position is located to permit the user to view the target through the secondary sight and the primary sight along the aiming axis extending through the primary and secondary sights. The secondary sight includes a magnifying lens through which the aiming axis extends in the operational position for magnifying the target as viewed through the secondary sight. The secondary sight includes at least one secondary aiming point movable with respect to the primary sight when the secondary sight is in the operational position.

In another aspect, a method of aiming a weapon comprises connecting a secondary sight to a weapon, and viewing a primary sight on the weapon through a magnifying lens of the secondary sight. The method further includes moving an aiming point of the secondary sight to calibrate the aiming point with respect to a primary aiming point of the primary sight by viewing the primary aiming point through the magnifying lens of the secondary sight. The secondary sight is selectively moved between a stowed position and an operational position. When the secondary sight is in the stowed position, the user looks through the primary sight to aim the weapon at a first target by locating the target in registration with the primary aiming point along an aiming axis. When the secondary sight is in the operational position, the user looks through the primary sight by looking through the secondary sight thereby viewing a second target to aim the weapon at the second target.

Other objects and features of the present disclosure will be in part apparent and in part pointed out herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a weapon including a first aiming accessory and a second aiming accessory;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the first and second aiming accessories looking down an aiming axis of the firearm with the first aiming accessory in an operational position; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the aiming accessory pivoted to a stowed position.

Corresponding reference numbers indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a weapon aiming accessory of the present disclosure is indicated generally by 10. The weapon aiming accessory 10 comprises an optical magnifier configured to assist a user in aiming a weapon 12 (e.g., firearm). The optical magnifier 10 may be referred to as a first aiming accessory and may be used on a weapon in conjunction with a second aiming accessory 14. For example, the second aiming accessory 14 may be a primary aiming accessory, and the optical magnifier 10 may be a secondary aiming accessory usable with the primary aiming accessory. The primary aiming accessory 14 may comprise any suitable type of weapon sight, such as a scope, a fiber optic sight, a red dot sight, battle sight, holographic sight, etc. The primary aiming accessory 14 may or may not be configured to magnify an intended target at which the sight and weapon are aimed. The primary aiming accessory 14 includes aiming structure (e.g., reticle, post, notch, ring, crosshairs, etc.) defining one or more aiming points 16 of the primary aiming accessory. In the illustrated embodiment, the primary aiming accessory 14 is a “red dot” sight (broadly, reflector or reflex sight) having a base 14A connected (e.g., clamped) to the weapon and a sight 14B including a dot 16 defining the aiming point. As those skilled in the art understand, the reflector sight 14 provides the aiming structure (e.g., red dot, dot of other color, or other aiming structure) by generating light (e.g., with an LED) and reflecting the light off a lens 15 toward an eye of the user. The user looks through the lens 15 to see the intended target and sees the aiming structure while looking through the lens. Other types of primary aiming accessories (e.g., other types of reflector sights) can be used without departing form the scope of the present disclosure.

The secondary aiming accessory 10 includes a base 20 and a sight 22 pivotably connected to the base. The base 20 includes a clamp 24 (broadly “weapon connector”) configured to clamp to a weapon 12 (e.g., to a rail of a firearm). In other embodiments, other numbers (e.g., more than one clamp) of weapon connectors may be used and/or other types of weapon connectors may be used. Pivot hubs of the base 20 and sight 22 are pivotably connected by a fastener or pin 30 defining a pivot axis PA. The sight 22 is pivotable about the pivot axis PA with respect to the base 20 (and with respect to the firearm 12) to move the sight between an operational position (FIGS. 1, 2) and a stowed position (FIG. 3).

Although the secondary aiming accessory 10 and primary aiming accessory 14 are shown as separate accessories (e.g., separately connectable to and disconnectable from the weapon 12) it will be understood that components of the accessories may be shared or common components. For example, the bases of the primary and secondary aiming accessories may be shared (e.g., parts of the same base) and/or the accessories may be mounted to the weapon by the same weapon connector(s).

The pivot connection structure (e.g., pivot hubs and/or fastener/pin) can include retaining structure (e.g., detent(s)) configured to retain the sight in the stowed and/or operational positions. For example, a spring-biased ball 32 may be provided in the base 20 to protrude upwardly for reception in recesses for retaining the sight 22 in the stowed and operational configurations. In the operational configuration, the ball 32 is biased upward into a first recess (in FIG. 1, hidden on the bottom of the pivot hub of the sight 22). To move the sight 22 to the stowed position, the user applies force to the sight in a direction tending to pivot the sight about the pivot axis PA toward the stowed position, which causes the ball 32 to temporarily deflect downward against the spring bias, to ride along the pivot hub of the sight as the sight is pivoted, and to resiliently enter the recess 34 when the sight reaches the stowed position, to hold the sight in that position. The sight is movable back to the operational position in a similar but opposite fashion. The retaining structure can be broadly referred to as a retainer for retaining the sight in the stowed and/or operational positions.

In other embodiments, the sight 22 can be moved between the operational and stowed positions in ways other than pivoting (e.g., sliding).

In the illustrated embodiment, the sight 22 includes a housing 36 and a magnifier 38 (e.g., one or more lenses) carried by the housing. In the operational position, the magnifier 38 is located in register with the primary sight 14 such that the primary sight is viewable through and/or beyond the magnifier while the user is aiming the weapon. The magnifier 38 provides the user with a magnified view of the intended target for more precise aiming and/or for aiming at longer distances from the target. In instances where the primary sight 14 already provides magnification, the magnifier 38 further magnifies the intended target because the user is viewing the target through the primary sight and through the magnifier. In instances where the primary sight 14 does not provide magnification, the magnifier 38 provides the only magnification of the intended target. The magnifier may be fixed power (e.g., 3×) or may be variable power (e.g., 3× to 9×). For example, the variable power magnification could be changed by rotating a ring 40 on the housing 36 to move one or more lenses inside the housing. The magnifier 38 may be omitted without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The sight 22 includes a reticle 42 defining at least one aiming point for use when the optical magnifier 38 is in the operational position. The reticle could comprise a grid or pattern (e.g., including one or more: dots, circles, crosshairs, non-crossing lines, other indicators, and/or a combination thereof) viewable by a user while looking through the optical magnifier to aim the weapon at an intended target. The user fires the weapon when a selected aiming point of the one or more aiming points is in a desired position with respect to the intended target as viewed through the sight 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the reticle 42 includes a crosshairs defining a first aiming point 44A and two dots defining respective second and third aiming points 44B, 44C.

The secondary aiming accessory 10 includes first and second adjustment actuators 50, 52 (broadly, “at least one adjuster”) configured to move at least one aiming point 44A-44C of the sight (e.g., move with respect to the magnifier 38, housing 36, and/or base 20). The adjustment actuators 50, 52 can be used to adjust an aiming point 44A-44C for elevation and windage to calibrate an aim of the sight with the aim of the firearm 12 while the sight 22 is in the operational position. In the illustrated embodiment, the adjustment actuators 50, 52 comprise rotatable knobs. Rotation of the actuator 50 in one direction raises the aiming points 44A-44C, and rotation of the actuator in an opposite direction lowers the aiming points. Rotation of the actuator 52 moves the aiming points 44A-44C to the left, and rotation of the actuator in the opposite direction moves the aiming points to the right. For example, rotation of the actuators 50, 52 can move support structure on which the aiming points 44A-44C are mounted or otherwise connected.

In a method of calibrating an aiming point 44A-44C of the secondary aiming accessory 10, the user mounts the secondary aiming accessory on a chosen weapon having a primary aiming accessory 14 (e.g., already having the primary aiming accessory 14 mounted thereon, or the primary aiming accessory being mounted thereon after mounting the secondary aiming accessory). The aiming point 16 of the primary aiming accessory is calibrated for aim with respect to the weapon when the user views a target down a sight axis SA passing through the aiming point 16 (e.g., so a projectile fired by the weapon is on target at a certain distance from the weapon). After the aiming point 16 is calibrated, with the sight 22 of the secondary aiming accessory 10 in the operational position, the user looks through the sight 22 to view the primary aiming accessory 14 down the sight axis SA. Using the adjustment actuators 50, 52, the user can move an aiming point 44A of the secondary aiming accessory to be in register (e.g., aligned on the sight axis SA) with the calibrated aiming point 16 of the primary aiming accessory 14. When the aiming point 44A of the secondary aiming accessory 10 is in register with the calibrated aiming point 16 of the primary aiming accessory 14 as viewed down the sight or aiming axis SA, the aiming point 44A of the secondary aiming accessory is calibrated.

In some embodiments, as in the illustrated example, the reticle 42 of the secondary aiming accessory 10 can define multiple aiming points. For example, the secondary aiming accessory may include a bullet-drop-compensation (BDC), MIL, or MOA reticle. The aiming points 44A-44C can have a defined relationship (e.g., vertical spacing) such that based on predetermined characteristics (e.g., distance from an intended target, characteristics of the weapon, and/or characteristics of ammunition being used) a user knows which of the aiming points to use in different circumstances. Desirably, the aiming points 44A-44C of the secondary aiming accessory are movable conjointly responsive to the adjustment actuators 50, 52. Accordingly, by calibrating a first aiming point 44A of the secondary aiming accessory, the user has calibrated the other aiming points 44B, 44C (e.g., second, third, fourth, fifth, etc.) of the secondary aiming accessory 10 based on the predetermined characteristics.

After the primary and secondary aiming accessories 14, 10 have been connected to the weapon and calibrated, the secondary aiming accessory can be used when desired to provide additional magnification of the intended target and/or to provide additional aiming points for aiming the weapon. The user can aim at a target using any of the aiming points of the secondary aiming accessory (e.g., by looking through the sight 22 to see the desired aiming point in register with the target downrange). When the user does not desire to use the secondary aiming accessory, it can be moved (e.g., pivoted) to its stowed position. For example, when the user anticipates close-range targets, the user may prefer to use only the primary aiming accessory. When the user desires to use the secondary aiming accessory, it can be moved (e.g., pivoted) to its operational position to permit the user to view a target therethrough, as described above. Desirably, one or both of the pivot hubs (e.g., via the retaining structure) of the base 20 and sight 22 define the location of the sight 22 in the operational position such that the location of the sight 22 is consistent, so the aiming points of the sight 22 do not need to be recalibrated each time the sight is moved back to the operational position.

It will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A weapon aiming system for use by a user, the system comprising: a primary aiming accessory comprising a primary sight defining at least one primary aiming point, the primary sight configured to permit the user to view a target through the primary sight to position the primary aiming point in registration with the target along an aiming axis for aiming the weapon at the target; a secondary aiming accessory comprising a secondary sight, the secondary sight being movably mounted with respect to the primary sight to permit movement of the secondary sight between a stowed position and an operational position, the secondary sight when in the stowed position being located to permit the user to view the target through the primary sight along the aiming axis without looking through the secondary sight, the secondary sight when in the operational position being located to permit the user to view the target through the secondary sight and the primary sight along the aiming axis extending through the primary and secondary sights, the secondary sight including a magnifying lens through which the aiming axis extends in the operational position for magnifying the target as viewed through the secondary sight, the secondary sight including at least one secondary aiming point movable with respect to the primary sight when the secondary sight is in the operational position.
 2. A weapon aiming system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the primary sight comprises a reflector sight.
 3. A weapon aiming system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the primary sight comprises a lens off which a light source is reflected to generate the primary aiming point.
 4. A weapon aiming system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the secondary aiming accessory includes retaining structure configured to maintain the secondary sight in at least one of the stowed position or the operational position.
 5. A weapon aiming system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the retaining structure is configured to hold the secondary sight in the stowed position and in the operational position.
 6. A weapon aiming system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the retaining structure comprises a detent.
 7. A weapon aiming system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary aiming point comprises multiple secondary aiming points including at least a first secondary aiming point and a second secondary aiming point, the second secondary aiming point being located below the first secondary aiming point.
 8. A weapon aiming system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the multiple secondary aiming points comprises a third secondary aiming point, the third secondary aiming point being located below the second secondary aiming point.
 9. A weapon aiming system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the secondary aiming point is movable with respect to the primary sight for windage and elevation adjustment.
 10. A weapon aiming system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the secondary sight includes at least one adjustment actuator operable to move the at least one secondary aiming point with respect to the at least one primary aiming point when the secondary sight is in the operational position.
 11. A weapon aiming system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary aiming accessories are connected to the weapon.
 12. A weapon aiming system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the secondary sight is pivotable about a pivot axis for moving the secondary sight between the stowed and operational positions.
 13. A method of aiming a weapon, the method comprising: connecting a secondary sight to a weapon, viewing a primary sight on the weapon through a magnifying lens of the secondary sight, moving an aiming point of the secondary sight to calibrate the aiming point with respect to a primary aiming point of the primary sight by viewing the primary aiming point through the magnifying lens of the secondary sight, selectively moving the secondary sight between a stowed position and an operational position, when the secondary sight is in the stowed position, looking through the primary sight to aim the weapon at a first target by locating the target in registration with the primary aiming point along an aiming axis, and when the secondary sight is in the operational position, looking through the primary sight by looking through the secondary sight thereby viewing a second target to aim the weapon at the second target.
 14. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein selectively moving the secondary sight between the stowed and operational positions comprises pivoting the secondary sight laterally with respect to the aiming axis about a pivot axis.
 15. A method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising maintaining the secondary sight in the operational position using a detent.
 16. A method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising, before moving the aiming point of the secondary sight to calibrate the aiming point of the secondary sight, moving the primary aiming point of the primary sight to calibrate the primary aiming point with respect to the weapon.
 17. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein moving the aiming point of the secondary sight to calibrate the aiming point of the secondary sight with respect to the primary aiming point comprises aligning the aiming point of the secondary sight in registration with the primary aiming point along the aiming axis.
 18. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein looking through the primary sight by looking through the secondary sight thereby viewing the second target to aim the weapon at the second target comprises aiming at the second target using the aiming point of the secondary sight.
 19. A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein the aiming point of the secondary sight is a first aiming point of the secondary sight, and wherein looking through the primary sight by looking through the secondary sight thereby viewing the second target to aim the weapon at the second target comprises using a second secondary aiming point of the secondary sight. 